Electronic device



Jan. 20, 1959 w. R. AlKEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 27, 1955 S QN d q mi E www Jan. 20, 1959 Filed Oct. 27, 1955 Pfg. 4.

W. R. AlKEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W/LL/M H055 ,l1/KEN BY (f Jan. 20, 1959 w. R. AIKEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE."

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001'.. 27, 1955 mopow P19..

@IAM Nh n mw IN VEN TOR. W/LL/M R055 A/KEN Jan. 20, 1959 w. R. AIKEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 b N FJ IVENTOR. W/LL/AM R055 A/KE/V BY g G Filed Oct. 27, 1955 Jan. 20, 1959 w. R. AIKEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Ocb. 27, 1955 INVENTOR.

W/LL/AM R055 /KEN Jan. 20, 1959 w. R. AIKEN ELECTRONIC nEvxcE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 00T.. 27, 1955 INVENToR. w/LL/AM R055 /A/KE/v United States ELECTRONIC DEVICE William R. Aiken, Los'Altos, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Kaiser Industries Corporation, a corporation of Nevada Application ombre-231955, semina. crassa 1,0 Claims. (Cl. 313--7'7) The invention relates. to an electron discharge device and morer particularlyl to a ltube-of the cathode rayvtype for reproducing symbols in luminous form;

Attendant withv thedevelopment of electronic applications in various of the communications field, there has developed the need for high speed printing and recording devices which are lcapable of roperating directly from data in coded form. Electromechanical devices are manifestly inadequate to function satisfactorily at very high speeds. However, electronic apparatus is adaptable for such high speed operation.

The instant tube whichis `of' the image or symbol selection and display type -is capable of; reproducing symbols in luminous form which mayV then be-recorded photographically. The input control'signals may come from many of thev usual control sources, preferably in a sequential pulse tcode. One; of the ,many different manners the coded informationor messagesmay be fed to the tube is by means ofa perforated paper tap-e or magnetic tape. Manifestly, vthe same information. could likewise be impressed on individual cards such as those employed in connection vwith existing large automatic business machines. lnotherenvironments, the control signals may originate fron 1 other, sources, as for example, the instant tube has application in the field, of aircraft navigational equipment ofthe radar type wherein the control signals are functions of the transmitted waves which have been reliected by ,an object in searching beam pattern.

Inone embodiment, the tube comprises an evacuated elongate envelope which functions to house the internal operational components of the tube. The internal cornponents include an electron sensitive target, an elongate cathode adapted to-,deliver a single sheet of electrons, an accelerator electrode-extending in substantially coextensive vrelationgwithhthe cathode, said accelerating electrode `having lp erforations formed therein representing Ivarious symbols which are to be displayed on the target, and f a set ofdeliection elements adapted to selectively detiect .a portion of the beam into impingement with the target.

ln operation, the electrons ,emitted from the cathode arecaused to be passed through the `apertures or perforations formed in the accelerating electrode: simultaneously., The deflectionelements are all maintained at a potential value substantially lequal to the potential impressed on the perforated accelerating electrodes establishing a field free region'.

The. Acoded input signals `are then selectively applied to selective ones of the set of vdeflection elements in such a fashion that thev portion, of the electron beam passing through the perforation of theV desired symbol to be displayed is deflected ythrough the field-free region toward land into vi,mping,errlerip,with the; targetr Electronl impipgement en -the target; causes-excitation ofthe target material lin: the-form of lightepresenting `the thereof. wnfsuration Vof the selected symbol.

A more complete understanding of the invention and Til 2,3703@ `Patented Jan. 20, 195g its numerous advantages will be readily manifest to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view partially in section of a cathode ray tube employing the features of the instant invention,

Figure 2 is al sectional view of the cathode ray'tube taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the perforated matrix' electrode shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is an isometric View of the perforatedmatrix electrode shown in Figure 3v and a portion ofthe individual associated deflection electrodes showing 'the colocation of the elements with respect to one another,

Figgure 5 illustrates one system in which a cathode ray tube incorporating the featuresV of the instant invention may be satisfactorily employed.

Figure 6 shows a modification of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 7 shows another modi'lication of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 8 is a side viewV partially broken-away of a cathode ray tube employing the features of the instant invention showing a modification of the deflection elec-" trodes shown in Figures l and 2, and

Figure 9 is a view of thev cathode ray tube shown in Figure 8 taken along'line 9 9.

in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is provided an evacuated envelope 8 which may be of the conventional type employed in connection with the conventional cathode ray tubes. However, it must be understood that the internal components ofthe instant invention may likewise .advantageously be employed in connection with the Aiken type liat cathode ray-tube. A-complete disclosure of such a tube is shownl and described inv applicants copending applications, Serial No. 355,965, tiled May 19, 1953, now abandoned; and Serial No. 396,120 liled December 4, 1953, which issued'as Patentl No. 2,795,731 on June 11, 1957.

Disposed with the reduced neck portion ofthe envelope 8, there is an Velongate cathode 10 connected to a suitable power supply through an electrical conductor 12. An electron beam forming electrode 142- is positioned relative to the cathode 1t) in a manner so'as to establish an electrostatic field in the region of the cathode 1li. This electrostatic field functions to cause Ithe electrons which are radially emitted from the cathode 1li to converge and form a sheet beam of electrons 15. It will be noted that the beam of electrons 15 which would be caused to be formed bythe arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 will travel in a vertical plane. The beam forming electrode 14 is energized fromy a power supply situated outside of the lenvelope 8 through an electrical conductor V16.

A perforated accelerating electrode 1S which is in the nature of a matrix, shown clearly in Figure 3 is disposed in spaced and coextensive relation with the cathode 16 and is suitably energized through an electrical conductor 20. The electrode 1S functions as a means to attract and thereby accelerate the electrons emitted from the cathode 10. Perforationsare provided in the electrode 1S representing the symbols or characters which are to be displayed. The symbols or characters of the electrode 1S are of any desired type including the letters of the alphabet, numerals, punctuation marks, etc. The methods used in forming these symbols are varied and include such'well known methods as stamping, vchemical etching, and the like.

A set of deflection electrodes or elements 3i) are spaced from and coextensive with the electrode 18 and are astronef ses C each connected separately to a selector circuit through electrical conductors 32. The conductors 32 may be conveniently cable means 34 to achieve a neat bundle of conductors.

It is proposed to ernploy an accelerator electrode f3 having sixty-four characters formed therein and a like number of deflection electrodes 39. Each character formed in the electrode i8 has an associated deflection electrode 3i) and arranged in a slightly staggered relation with respect to one another. The reason for this staggered relationship will be explained in greater detail at a subsequent point in the description.

An accelerating anode 36 is provided within the reduced neck portion of the envelope 8 and connected to a regulated power supply through an electrical conAv ductor 38.

A fluorescent target 26 is disposed adjacent the face of the tube 8 and is maintained at a desired potential through an electrical conductor 28 from any suitable v source.

Horizontal and vertical deflection electrodes do and 42, respectively, are disposed at positions between the target 26 and the accelerating anode 36. Suitable electrical conductors 4l and 43 are employed to supply deflection control signals to the horizontal and vertical deflection electrodes lli and 42, respectively.

In operation, the cathode 10 is supplied with current from a power supply through an electrical conductor l2. This current effectively heats the cathode il@ and causes electrons to be emitted from the surface thereof. It has been found that satisfactory results may be obtained by operating the cathode 1G at approximately 0 volts negative potential. The electrons emitted from the cathode lll are formed into a sheet of electrons l5 by an electrostatic field established by energization of the beam forming electrode 14. Suitable focusing of the electrons may be effected by maintaining the electrode 14 at 5 volts potential negative with respect to the po` tential of the cathode l0. The sheet of electrons 15 assumes a vertical path and flows to the perforated accelerator electrode 18. Due to the fact that perforations are formed in the electrode 18, which is maintained in a satisfactory embodiment at 500 volts potential positive with respect to the cathode potential7 certain of the electrons of the beam 15 are trode i8 while the other electrons are permitted to pass through the perforations. Accordingly, those electrons which have been emitted from the cathodeilt and pass through the perforated portions of the electrode f3 will assume the form or configuration of the perforations.

More specifically, those electrons of the sheet of electrous l5 which pass through the perforation of the electrode 18 which is in the form of an A will have a corresponding cross-sectional configuration.

For purposes of simpliflcation, it will be assumed that only the symbol A is desired to be displayed on the target 26 of the device. It will be further assumed that the symbol A is formed in the electrode f3 at i point thereon which is disposed near the terminal portion of the electrode .18 which is located in the reduced neel; of the envelope 3 most removed from the target 26. in this instance, the associated deflection electrode 3d which is in staggered relation with the symbol A is selectively energized in such a manner as to lower the voltage thereon to a valve of approximately 0 volts potential with respect to the cathode potential causing the beam of electrons in the form of the symbol A to be deflected to travel a path toward the target 26. It must be understood that the relative dispositions of the perforations in the electrode f8 and their associated deflection electrodes 3l) are such that the deflection electrodes 3b are spaced slightly more distant from the target 26 than their associated symbol perforations. This relative positioning is shown clearly in Figure 4. Such staggered relative disposition is desirable so that ther elecstopped by the elec- 'i I electrons.

' tto-extensive with the deflection set.

Now, as the electron beam is deflected so as to travel along a path in the direction of the target, it must travel through a zone defined by the linear set of deflection electrodes 3@ and the perforated electrode 18 In order that no spurious electric fields will be present to adversely affeet the electron beam travel through this zone, a fieldfree region is established by maintaining the electrode l and all the deflection electrodes 3@ except the one which is acting to deflect the electrons passing through the desired perforation in the electrode 18 at a substantially constant potential, such as for example 500 volts potential positive with respect to the cathode potential.

The accelerating anode 36 is operative to accelerate the electron beam passing through the aforementioned held-free zone and also functions to focus the beam and thereby militate against any beam blow-up prior to impinging on the target 26. The anode 36 may be maintained at 650 volts potential positive with respect to the potential of the cathode l0.

ll'he horizontal and vertical deflection electrodes el) and d2, respectively, are operative to eectively position the electron beam on the target 26 in a manner well-known in the cathode ray tube art. Manifestly, when the electron beam impinges upon the target 26, the fluorescent material thereon becomes excited and gives oil a luminescent visual display in the form of the selected symbol chosen on the perforated electrode f8.

The operation of the instant device in a system simulates typesetting in the steps of selecting separate symbols one-by-one and reproducing them in a line or any other desired pattern on the fluorescent target 26. Figure 5 illustrates a system employing the instant device. In the system illustrated in Figure 5, the information or data to be visually displayed has been placed on a tape 44 in the form of perforations. The tape d4 is caused to pass between a light source 46 and an arrangement of photomultiplier tubes 48. The tape 4d is adapted to carry a plurality of perforations extending transversely of the tape in alignment with the photomultiplier tubes 48, so that when the tape is caused to be advanced between the light source and the phototube arrangement, the amount of light reaching the phototubes is determined by the number of perforations momentarily interposed between them and the light source. Each particular arrangement of perforations on the tape 44 represents a particular symbol and controls the amount of current delivered by the phototube arrangement passed through a code convertor 5o to a symbol selector 56. The code convertor 5f) is adapted to separate the signals taken from the perforated tape 4ewhich are operative to position the electron beam on the face of the fluorescent target 2o. By suitable synchronization between the electrical signal fed to the horizontal deflection generator 52 and the vertical deflection generator 5d, which are both fed from the code convertor 5t), the electromagnetic elds established by their associated horizontal and vertical deflection electromagnets 53 and S5, the electron beam may be effectively caused to scan the face of the target 26 to form either a single line, a complete raster, or a single dot.

The signal fed to the symbol selector 56 is operative to selectively decrease the voltage on any of the deflection elements 3@ and thereby cause the beam passing through the associated aperture or perforation in the electrode f8 to be deflected and impinge on the fluorescent target 2,6

asraaai It willnow be readily discernible that the invention has` provided a novel tube of the cathode ray type which is capable of translating electrical impulses representing sym-v bols of a message into visible replicas of the said symbols, which 4replicas may be utilizedin numerous applications, such as for photographie recording and others too numerou'sfto mention. Y

Figure 6 showsanother embodimentl ofthe instant invention wherein. a slotted electrode'ZZ coeirtensive with the set of detiection electrodes 30 is disposed intermediate the perforated acceleratingelectrode 18 and the deection electrodes 30. The electrode 22 is provided with an electrical conductor 24. which suitably connects. the electrode 22 to a suitable source ofpotential. It will be noted that in this embodiment.the'perforated electrode gfcarrying the desired symbols to be displayed, thecathode and' its associated beam forming electrode 14 are disposed at an angle with respect to the slotted electrode 22 and the set of deflection electrodes 3G.

With the arrangement shown in Figure 6, the slotted electrode 22 is maintained at a voltage value which is lower than the voltage applied to the perforated accelerating electrode 18. The arrangement assists the deflection of the beamv of electro-ns which pass throughl the electrode 18 and the slot or aperture formed through the entire length of the electrode 22.

There is'also shown in diagrammatic form in connection with Figure 6, the relative paths of travel of the electrons when no deflecting forces are established by the deflection electrodes 39 and also the path of travel when a deecting force is established by one of the deection electrodes 30. The dotted line A indicated the path of travel of the electrons when no deflecting force is established by the deflection electrodes 30 and the dotted line B indicates the actual path of the electrons when a deflecting force is caused to be established by the deflection electrodes 3G.

Figure 7 illustrates another modification of the structure shown in Figures l and 2. lt will be noted that the deflection electrodes 30 are tilted in such a manner that the surfaces thereof which are adjacent or in facing relation with the perforated electrode 18, the cathode 10, and the beam forming electrode 14 are tilted toward the target screen 26. By disposing the delection electrodes r 30 in this manner, in some applications electron beam delection and bending may be achieved more readily.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another modification of the device directed to a modied version of the deflection electrodes. lt will be noted that the dellection electrodes are constructed in three parts; the upper part 30 having a generally at or planar top portion, another portion 37 de pending downwardly therefrom and in spaced insulated relation thereto, and the lower part 39 is relatively at and disposed in spaced insulated relation with respect to said other parts and to the perforated electrode 18. Further, it is to be pointed out that upper part 30 of each detlection electrode, shown in Figures 8 and 9, is electrically connected to a power supply through suitable conducting wires and that the two other parts 37 and 39 of each detlection electrode are connected together and to a power supply in such a way that portions 37 and 39 can be changed in voltage independently of part 30. The- La? potential negative with respect tothe` cathode 10; `thevaperltured accelerator electrode at 500I volts" potential positive with respect to the cathode 1,0;` andthe entire array of deflection electrodes at 500 volts potential positive with respect to thevcathode 10. ln the event thatthe portion of the beam`15 most remote fromthe target (the portion of the beam 15 at the far right inFigure 8) is to be deected, the voltage onA the last deection electrode 36, at the far right in Figure 8,; willbe caused to be driven toward zero potential with respect to the cathode potential.

The relatively negative electric'iield with respect to the beam 15 established by the deflection electrode part 30, which has been'driven towardavzero potential value, will cause the beam 15 to be deflected toward the left. Now, in order to maintain focus of the formed electron beam 15 as it travels through the region between the individual parts of the electrodes',`vthe potential on one of the electrode parts 37 and 39 spaceda distance of two electrodes in front of the deflected beam will be caused to be lowered to approximately 350fvo1ts potentialpositive witltrespect to the cathode potential. It is deemed advantageous to so lower thel voltagemof, the electrode parts 37 and 39 which are approximately two or three electrodes removed from thedetlectionelectrode part 3,(ifwhich actually established the electric field operativeto bend the electron beamthrough substantially 9 0". By so lowering the voitage, the dellected electron beam 15, upon penetrating the electric field establishedV thereby, is accelerated and its focus is` maintained. It will be manifest that the energizet-ion of the deflection electrodes, in the manner set forth above, may be readily afected by, auxiliary apparatus.

Although it is deemed advisable tov impress sixty-four symbolsor` characters on the apertured electrode 18, it is to be understood that any desired number, more or less, may be employed. However, it must be pointed out that for each character formed in the apertured electrode 18, it is generally necessary to employ at least one set of associated deiiection electrodes. ln the event that it is desired to display a group of symbols or characters on a target simultaneously, these symbols may be clustered together in the apertured electrode 18 in such a fashion that a single deflection electrode may be employed to deflect the electron beam passing therethrough simultaneously.

What is claimed is:

l. An electron discharge device comprising a target, an electron beam source means for delivering a sheet beam along a given path, means disposed adjacent and spaced from said source means for forming said beam into characters, and means for selectively deflecting said beam into impingement with said target subsequent to its passage through said forming means.

2. An electron discharge device comprising a target, an electron source means for delivering a sheet beam of electrons along a path in a direction which is substantially parallel to said target, a beam shaping member disposed .across the path of said beam for simultaneously obtaining a series of shaped electron streams, and a set of dellection elements, each element being disposed relative to said electron beam to selectively deflect at least one of said streams from said path and into impingement with said target.

3. An electron discharge device comprising a target, an electron emitter source means for emitting a sheet beam of electrons along a path in a direction which is substantially parallel to said target, .a beam shaping member extending substantially coextensively with said source lmeans and disposed in the path of said beam whereby the electrons directed therethrough are formed into a series of shaped electron streams, a plurality of deilection members, each deflection member being preassigned for use in selecting an associated different one of the shaped streams, and means for energizing said deection members selectively to effect detlection of the corresponding ones of said streams from said path and into registration with said target.

4. An electron discharge device as set forth in claim 3 which includes means for supporting each of said deection members in offset relation relative to its associated electron stream, the deflection member being spaced slightly more distant from the target than its associated electron stream.

5. An electron discharge device as set forth in claim 3 which includes a plurality of focusing elements mounted between said deection members and said source means, and in the path of the beam subsequent to its deflection by said deection members in the direction of said target.

6. An electron discharge device comprising a target. an electron beam source means for delivering a sheet of electrons along a path in a direction which is substantially parallel to said target, character forming means disposed in said path to form a plurality of shaped electron beams, and means for applying detlecting forces to said shaped electron beams to selectively deflect different ones of said shaped electron beams toward said target.

7. An electron discharge device comprising a target, source means for delivering an electron beam along a path in a direction which is substantially parallel to said target, beam shaping means disposed in said path for shaping said electron beam into n plurality of dilerent predetermined characters, and a plurality of detlection members disposed in the path of the shaped beam, each of which is operable to deflect the beam from said path in the direction of said target, different ones of said deection members being operable to deect dilerent ones of the beam shapes toward said target.

8. An electron discharge device as set forth in claim 7 in which `a: least certain of said deflection members are supported in a common plane in the path of said beam, and said source means comprises an elongated cathode disposed in skewed relation relative to said common plane.

9. An electron discharge device as set forth in claim 7 in which each of said deflection members are disposed in skewed relation relative to the direction of initial travel of the beam to aid deliection of the beam in the direction of the target.

10. In an electron discharge device comprising a target, an electron source means for delivering a beam along a path in a direction which is substantially parallel to said target, beam shaping means disposed in the path of said beam for shaping said beam into different shaped symbols, a rst deection means comprising a plurality of deflection members located in the path of said beam as shaped, each of which is operable to selectively and individually deflect a different one of the beam shapes in the direction of said target, and a second deection means for controlling the horizontal and vertical coordinate of registration of the selected one of the beam shapes With said target.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,211,844 Brett Aug. 20, 1940 2,283,383 McNaney May 19, 1942 2,449,558 Lanier et al. Sept. 21, 1948 2,513,742 Pinciroli July 4, 1950 2,761,988 McNaney Sept. 4, 1956 2,795,729 Gabor June 11, 1957 

